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«IZVESTIYA IRKUTSKOGO GOSUDARSTVENNOGO UNIVERSITETA». SERIYA «POLITOLOGIYA. RELIGIOVEDENIE»
«THE BULLETIN OF IRKUTSK STATE UNIVERSITY». SERIES «POLITICAL SCIENCE AND RELIGION STUDIES»
ISSN 2073-3380 (Print)

List of issues > Series «Political Science and Religion Studies». 2026. Vol 57

The Transformation of Perceptions of War in Germany (2022–2026)

Author(s)

E. Yu. Kirilina

Moscow State Linguistic University, Moscow, Russian Federation

Abstract
This article examines the transformation of Germany's perspectives on war, tracing its evolution from the historical legacy of militarism to contemporary perceptions of war as a realistic possibility. The analysis concludes that perceptions of future war, including conflict scenarios and assessments of their likelihood, serve as a critical factor shaping military preparations, defense industry funding, and the state's military power. The study identifies three distinct phases in Germany's evolving conceptions of war since the early 20th century. The first phase was characterized by the dominance of militarism, where war was viewed as an inevitable means of resolving geopolitical disputes. The second phase, by contrast, was marked by political romanticism, emphasizing peaceful coexistence, the outright rejection of war as a possibility, and societal reckoning with past mistakes. The third phase, emerging in the 1990s and intensifying in 2022, reflects a shift toward political realism, acknowledging war as a tangible threat in contemporary international relations. A key aspect of Germany's current strategic outlook is the construction of an "enemy image," with Russia occupying this role in present political discourse. The article dedicates considerable attention to examining strategic documents released since February 2022.The study concludes that examining foreign perceptions of future warfare contributes to the development of a well-calibrated national defense strategy.
About the Authors
Kirilina Elizaveta Yurievna, Candidate of Sciences (Political Science), Senior Lecture, Department of Political Science Moscow State Linguistic University 38, Ostozhenka st., Moscow, 119034, Russian Federation e-mail: liz.kirilina@yandex.ru
For citation
Kirilina E.Yu. The Transformation of Perceptions of War in Germany (2022–2026). The Bulletin of Irkutsk State University. Series Political Science and Religion Studies, 2026, vol. 57, pp. 34-47. https://doi.org/10.26516/2073-3380.2026.57.34 (in Russian)
Keywords
FRG, concept of war, future wars, transformation, political romanticism, “enemy image”, Russia.
UDC
327.2
DOI
https://doi.org/10.26516/2073-3380.2026.57.34
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